[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 175 (Thursday, September 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48478-48479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24307]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 083198A]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a meeting of its Bluefish, Calico Scallop, Joint Executive & 
Finance,Snapper Grouper, and Habitat Committees; and a Council Session.

DATES: The meetings will be held from September 21-25, 1998. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Town and Country Inn, 2008 
Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407; telephone: (843) 571-1000; 
(800) 334-6660.
    Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One 
Southpark Circle, Suite 306; Charleston, SC 29407-4699.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Buchanan, Public Information 
Officer; telephone: (843) 571-4366; fax: (843) 769-4520; email: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

    September 21, 1998, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.--Bluefish Committee;
    The Bluefish Committee will review bluefish public hearing comments 
and develop committee recommendations for Bluefish Amendment 1. The 
committee will also review actions for 1999;
    September 21, 1998, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.--Calico Scallop 
Committee;
    The committee will review the draft Calico Scallop Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) and NMFS comments on the plan before making final 
committee recommendations for the plan;
    September 22, 1998, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.--Joint Executive and 
Finance Committees;
    The committees will review and approve the proposed 1999 Council 
budget and schedule of activities;
    September 22, 1998, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.--Snapper Grouper 
Committee;
    The committee will review current available data for greater 
amberjack, snowy grouper and golden tilefish and develop management 
recommendations for greater amberjack. If changes are made for greater 
amberjack, the committee will approve a framework adjustment to the 
Snapper Grouper Plan.
    The committee will also take additional action on the interim 
request for Amendment 9 to the Snapper Grouper FMP;
    September 23, 1998, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.--Habitat Committee;
    The committee will finalize recommendations on the Habitat FMP, the 
Habitat Comprehensive Amendment and the Calico Scallop and Sargassum 
FMPs and develop committee recommendations on Gulf Council habitat 
actions;
    September 23, 1998, 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.--Council Session;
    The Council will hold elections for a new chairman and vice 
chairman and make presentations from 1:45 to 2:15;
    Beginning at 2:15 p.m. the Council will take public comment on the 
South Atlantic Council's Habitat Plan, Calico Scallop FMP and Sargassum 
FMP, the Habitat Comprehensive Amendment, and the Comprehensive 
Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment. Public comment will also be taken 
on Gulf Council actions on habitat and other SFA provisions relative to 
coastal pelagics and spiny lobster;
    From 4:15 p.m. (or immediately after the end of public comment) to 
6:00 p.m. the Council will hear the Habitat Committee report and 
approve the Habitat FMP for submission to the Secretary of Commerce;
    September 24, 1998, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.--Council Session;
    From 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon the Habitat Committee report will 
resume, and the Council will approve the Habitat Comprehensive 
Amendment and the Sargassum FMP for submission to the Secretary of 
Commerce, as well as Gulf Council actions relative to habitat;
    From 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. the Council will hear the Calico 
Scallop Committee report and approve the Calico Scallop FMP for 
submission to the Secretary of Commerce;
    From 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. the Council will approve the 
Comprehensive Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment for submission to the 
Secretary of Commerce;
    From 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. the Council will hear the Snapper 
Grouper Committee report after taking public comment on the Amberjack 
framework action. The Council will take further action on greater 
amberjack management and the Snapper Grouper Amendment 9 interim 
request;

[[Page 48479]]

    From 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the Council will hear the Bluefish 
Committee report and approve recommendations for Bluefish Amendment 1;
    From 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the Council will hear the Executive and 
Finance Committee report and approve the Council's 1999 activities 
schedule and budget;
    September 25, 1998, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.--Council Session;
    The Council will review the Mackerel Advisory Panel's request to 
allow retention of Spanish mackerel in the gill net fishery for spot, 
hear NMFS reports on the status of: implementation of Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 8; Snapper Grouper Amendment 9; Golden Crab Framework #1; 
1998-1999 Mackerel Framework Action; quotas for Atlantic king mackerel, 
Eastern zone Gulf king mackerel, Atlantic Spanish mackerel, snowy 
grouper, golden tilefish, wreckfish, and South Atlantic octocorals. The 
Council will also hear reports on the Billfish and Highly Migratory 
Species Advisory Panel meetings, cannonball jellyfish, the Council 
chairmen's meeting, and the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics 
Program before hearing agency and liaison reports and discussing other 
business and upcoming meetings.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted 
to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed in this 
notice.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by September 14, 1998.

    Dated: September 4, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24307 Filed 9-4-98; 3:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F